Sunday, October 28, 2007

MR. BROOKS*

A serial killer movie that tries to be different. Kevin Costner play Earl Brooks, a Northwest businessman who is very successful and has just won a prestigious businessman of the year award. He is also a serial murderer who the police have named the Thumbprint Killer. Costner does well as a man who keeps his true face hidden from all including his family. William Hurt plays Costner’s imaginary and bloodthirsty alter ego. Earl doesn’t want to kill anymore (he attends AA meetings and announces he has an “addiction.”) Marshall wants the thrill and rush. Their by-play is jarring at first but then the film makes it work. Demi Moore plays the homicide detective tracking him and Dane Cook is a witness who is different than Earl Brooks thought. There are some surprising twists and turns in the storyline but the resolution feels lacking. Worth a look if you like suspense films. A rental as they say, not a purchase.

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Question: Why does Hollywood seem to feel that sex and nudity equals death? No answer. Just wondering.

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I like Costner. I think he’s underrated as an actor. I think he usually picks interesting projects. According to IMDb, and I don’t agree with this ranking (I like five of the ten), but his top-ten rated films are:

THE UNTOUCHABLES

JFK

DANCES WITH WOLVES

MR. BROOKS

FIELD OF DREAMS

OPEN RANGE

TESTAMENT

THIRTEEN DAYS

FRANCESA PERFECT WORLD

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Farther down the list are: SILVERADO, BULL DURHAM, NO WAY OUT, TIN CUP, THE GUARDIAN and still further down are: THE BODYGUARD, WATERWORLD, and THE POSTMAN. Nice body of work. Other actors should do as well.